Reflection: Mary Magdalene
We are in a spiritual battle. We may not see the overt presence of evil spirits, but Jesus spoke of their dominion in this world, their active opposition to his work and his victory over them.
We read in Mark 16 of how Jesus drove out seven demons from Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9). From that day forward Mary’s faith in Christ and commitment to him was total. The account of her life again shows us that no one is beyond the reach of Jesus, not even those gripped by evil forces.
In response to her salvation, Mary was to live out the teaching, “everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48). She made sacrifices each day, she gave all her resources, time, energy and finances in the service of Christ. She also gave herself emotionally: we see her standing at the cross, she sat before the burial, and she was chosen to be among the first to learn of the resurrected Christ (Mark 16:6) and to tell others of it (Mark16:7).
We too have been saved and delivered from the spiritual forces that battle against us. We too can give of our lives practically in service of Christ and be conscious that we are in a spiritual battle. We need to take on the Armour of God in the spiritual battle, aware that Jesus has already won the victory.
Prayer: Lord God, today we pray Ephesians chapter 6:10-18. (Pause with each piece of Armour, reflect on its power and make it your own).
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full Armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full Armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”